Jeremy Corbyn will be visiting Milton Keynes on Monday 14th August. He will be holding a rally at Willen Lakeside Park at 4.15 pm.

Over 300 residents from the Bangladeshi community and other communities from across Bletchley and Milton Keynes took a day trip to the coast on Tuesday 8 August. The weather was nice and Brighton was as warm and friendly as ever.

The trip was organised by the Milton Keynes Bangladeshi Association in conjunction with local Labour Councillor Mohammed Khan. The coaches left Milton Keynes early in the morning and residents had an enjoyable day making the most of Brighton, its beach and its food. A wide range of people, young old, from new and from older communities came together.

Cllr Khan said, “It was a great day out. There is something very traditional, and satisfying, in taking 6 coaches and over 300 residents to Brighton for the Day. I was pleased with the number of people from all age groups, and all communities who took advantage of a nice day out. I think a trip to the sea is a great way to build strong communities that value people regardless of background or age.”

Cllr Khan concluded, “Running activities like trips to the sea is a great way of bringing people together. I will be supporting similar events in the future. I am a strong believer is creating strong communities of people.”

Over 300 residents from the Bangladeshi community and other communities from across Bletchley and Milton Keynes took a day trip to the coast on Tuesday 8 August. The weather was...

... but the government cap stops investment. Milton Keynes Council is building two bedroom council houses and bungalows on three sites in West Bletchley. The properties are moving close to completion.

This is good news. However, as of Friday 4th August, there were 763 families with 1,279 children in temporary accommodation. It is blindingly obvious that hundreds more new council houses are needed.

But here is the rub! The Councils Housing Account has a surplus. There are also reserves, and an asset base of over £100 million pounds, in addition to an annual rent stream of over £50 million. However, the government will not allow the council to borrow to invest.

Council Leader Cllr Pete Marland said, “We could do so much more to end the housing and homelessness crisis in Milton Keynes. All the government has to do is allow us to borrow against our assets, or against the annual rent stream of £50 million. We have pleaded with the Housing Minister and the two Tory MPs for Milton Keynes to free us to invest. They do not support any change.”

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Housing, Cllr Nigel Long, added, “What sort of society forces families with hundreds of children into temporary accommodation, often a single room with a shared kitchen? The winners here are the private landlords, who make millions out of the homeless. Why won’t the government simply allow us to invest? It is ideology gone mad. They need to rethink.”

Cllr Marland concluded, “We have asked John Healey MP, Shadow Housing Minister, to raise the matter in Parliament. Clearly we cannot rely on the local MPs to help us end the housing and homelessness crisis locally. They are part of the problem.”

Contacts

... but the government cap stops investment. Milton Keynes Council is building two bedroom council houses and bungalows on three sites in West Bletchley. The properties are moving close to completion....